Associate Director

This is a strategic sourcing leadership role focused on strengthening the efficiency, value, and quality of global R&D operations. You will shape category strategies across CRO and FSP outsourcing, leveraging market intelligence and external solutions to support business priorities.

• Develop category strategies: Monitor CRO, FSP, external resourcing, digitalization, AI, and broader R&D market trends to identify opportunities and inform sourcing strategies.
• Partner with R&D functions: Build trusted relationships with internal stakeholders, understand outsourcing needs, and translate business requirements into effective category, vendor, and external resourcing strategies.
• Drive cost optimization: Identify savings and value-creation opportunities, develop business cases, and align recommendations with strategic and operational priorities.
• Lead sourcing initiatives: Manage category management projects that optimize external spend, strengthen supplier value, and improve sourcing outcomes across R&D.
• Provide market and supplier intelligence: Deliver insights on supply markets, vendor capabilities, pricing, and industry developments to support informed business and sourcing decisions.
• Manage strategic suppliers: Lead supplier relationship management activities, strengthen partnerships, monitor performance, and ensure external providers deliver against expectations.
• Oversee vendor governance: Manage performance reviews, issue escalation and resolution, risk oversight, and governance meetings to maintain supplier quality and maximize partnership value.
• Support contracting and negotiations: Oversee key master service agreement and rate card negotiations, ensuring competitive commercial terms and alignment with category objectives.
• Drive execution: Partner with business and cross-functional teams to implement sourcing recommendations, track progress, and manage initiatives through completion.
• Promote innovation: Evaluate external solutions, including digital and AI-enabled capabilities, that can improve cost efficiency, delivery speed, and quality across R&D.
• Maintain compliance and operational discipline: Ensure sourcing and contracting activities are executed effectively, consistently, and in accordance with internal requirements and applicable standards.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline with 10+ years of related experience, or a master’s degree with 8+ years of relevant experience; an equivalent combination of education and experience may also be considered.
• R&D sourcing expertise: Significant experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, category management, or related functions within an R&D environment, ideally with exposure to CRO and/or FSP outsourcing.
• Category management: Demonstrated ability to develop and execute category strategies, assess market dynamics, and optimize external spend and supplier value.
• Commercial expertise: Strong experience with supplier negotiations, master service agreements, rate cards, contracting, and commercial strategy.
• Vendor management: Proven ability to manage strategic supplier relationships, performance, governance, risk, and issue resolution.
• Business partnering: Strong stakeholder-management skills with the ability to influence R&D leaders and cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Analytical capability: Strong financial, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop business cases and translate data into actionable recommendations.
• Project management: Experience leading complex sourcing or transformation initiatives from strategy and planning through implementation.
• Innovation mindset: Ability to identify and evaluate external solutions, including digital and AI-enabled capabilities, that can improve R&D efficiency and effectiveness.
• Communication: Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and negotiation skills, with the ability to communicate clearly across technical, operational, and executive audiences.
• Global collaboration: Comfortable working across functions, geographies, and cultures in a dynamic international environment.
• Technology: Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and contract management systems.
• Core competencies: Demonstrated teamwork, initiative, adaptability, continuous learning, results orientation, financial acumen, analytical thinking, inclusive leadership, and an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Travel: Limited travel may be required.

• Base salary: $141,600–$191,600 annually, with actual compensation determined by experience, qualifications, skills, location, and other applicable factors.
• Annual bonus: Eligibility for an annual bonus plan for non-commercial roles.
• Equity opportunities: Eligibility for discretionary equity awards and voluntary participation in an Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
• Healthcare: Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Retirement: 401(k) plan.